Archive for July, 2008

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Man U confident of playing Berbatov at Old Trafford

July 19th, 2008

Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, is confident of getting Bulgarian goal-machine Dimitar Berbatov to play at Old Trafford in sometime, positively completing the transfer before this transfer window closes. The main cause of all this speculation about mere formalities, however, seems to be the motive to put an end on the widely media-covered C. Ronaldo saga.

The Scot, former manager of Scottish team Aberdeen, believes that the Bulgarian will be a great addition to their squad. He adds that ‘time is working for them rather against them’, and in pretext to this transfer bid from Tottenham, this somewhat indicates that the deal is not fully done yet!

United are having a pre-season tour of South Africa to be followed by Nigeria, the club’s fourth largest fan base.

They will play South African team Kaizer Chiefs tomorrow, to be followed by two more matches later and a friendly in Nigeria City Abuja with Portsmouth, a rehearsal for the Community Shield match to be held on August 10.

The club will start its title defense against Newcastle United, in what seems to be a ‘homecoming’ for injury affected players like Owen Hargreaves, Saha, Gary Neville and the post surgery recovering winger Christiano Ronaldo.

This pre-season tour will also be the test for new players like Jonny Evans and Frazer Campbell, along with Gary Neville, who has been out of play for the last sixteen months.

On their return to Old Trafford, they will have a five day spell of matches against Espanyol, Peterborough and Juventus.

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Posted in General, Man U

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Wenger building ‘talent’ than bringing big ‘names’ to Emirates

July 19th, 2008

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that he prefers nurturing his talented youngsters than getting big players for the club. He maintained that he is in a position to buy some players, but deemed it better to rely on youngsters’ talent and their capability aroused by youthful hunger to be more than capable of bringing titles to the Emirates.

Through his strategy, he believed that it was easier to prevent the young players getting ‘killed’ by big names.

According to newly added French attacking midfielder, Samir Nasri, more than anything, it was Wenger’s reputation of building talent and giving due chances to young players that brought him at the club, along with advice from French internationals and former Gunners, Theirry Henry and Patrick Viera.

Another young addition to the Emirates squad, this summer, is Wales under-21 international Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff City, a teenager who again is a midfielder with an ability to play in defense as well.

The Arsenal youth academy teams in under-17 and under-18 divisions are good contenders for the FA Premier Academy league. With notable youngsters in the Arsenal Reserves’ team like the Dutch under-17 international Vincent van der Berg, Norway under-17 international Havard Nordtviet, and Englishmen Henry Lansbury and Kieran Gibbs, we may very well see the next soccer star coming out of the Arsenal F.C. Academy!

Arsenal will be opening their pre-season campaign against Barnet tomorrow, the first one in which Ramsey is expected to feature.

Gunners’ fan will be hoping that the young guns keep on improving more and the honors to the club will also keep coming!

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Posted in Arsenal, General

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Seydi: Drogba to speak on future at Chelsea within 10 days

July 17th, 2008

Chelsea’s star striker and Ivory Coast soccer team captain Didier Drogba, according to his agent Thierno Seydi, has got on to make a decision on his stay at Stanford Bridge within the coming 10 days.

Last November, Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho was shown the door, after which Drogba’s interest in staying at the London club seemed to decline. He even said that he used to play for the manager, after whose departure, he would have to find another source of inspiration.

The new coach Luiz Filipe Scolari said during his unveiling that he had Drogba in his plans for the coming season, and reports suggest that the player has been offered a huge amount of money to stay at the club.

According to his agent, the star striker is not under the influence of the November 2007 event, but still needs time to consider his options.

Drogba, who said during the 2006 world cup that he believes the difference between good teams and bad ones are the former making the latter pay for their mistakes, seems to know how much the Marseille fans love him even after four years have gone, since he left the club. However, he has doubts whether the French club will be able to afford to buy him.

According to reports, Drogba is having tough times trying to decide whether to leave the club and the on-field company of stars like Michael Ballack, Salomon Kalou, Andriy Shevchenko and John Terry or continue staying without an on-field mentor, like Mourinho, at Stanford Bridge.

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Posted in Chelsea FC, General

Berbatov will be finally playing at Old Trafford

July 17th, 2008

Manchester United has finally got hold of Bulgarian international Dimitar Berbatov after what seemed to be a kind of tug-of-war between the two clubs, not for the player, but for the transfer money involved.

Manchester United firstly offered a sum of 20 million pounds, which was rejected by the Spurs, asking nothing short of 30 million this weekend. Then a bid of 28 million came, which suited both the parties. Red Devils are now supposed to pay 18 million pounds as down payment with the rest depending on the player’s appearances and performances with the club.

Berbatov, four time Bulgarian player of the year, is expected to give United more creativity in the opponent’s box, allowing players like Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney to be more independent and aggressive. With this new addition, it seems that the Old Trafford club will be again too tough to stop for their opponents.

The 27 year old, who has scored 27 goals in two years time with the Spurs, thanks to his so called ‘silky’ style of play, is seen by some as a spoilsport in the Red Devils Game Play, which is generally counter attack.

Meanwhile, the C. Ronaldo story has gone into a new twist, thanks to an injury to the winger, which will render him unavailable to play for at least the next twelve weeks.

Let us hope that this new transfer gets results worth the investment it has been, and that the Ronaldo saga comes to an end sooner than later!.

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Posted in General, Man U, Premiership, Tottenham

Ronaldo out of action for twelve weeks

July 15th, 2008

Christiano Ronaldo, the star winger from Portugal, who is currently caught in a tug-of-war between two of the biggest clubs in the world, has an operation for his ankle injury incurred during the recently concluded Euro Cup. This surgery is likely to keep him out of action for at least the coming twelve weeks.

According to Portugal Soccer team physiotherapist Antonio Gasper, Ronaldo will not be able to hit the pitch before October, thanks to the operation he had to undergo for his right ankle. He added that the 23-year old will remain in his observation for about three weeks before doctors from Manchester United carry out further examination.

This news simply points out that C. Ronaldo will not be available to play for Manchester United in coming time. With the recent speculation on his transfer to Real Madrid, it seems difficult that the player will have the same old commitment for the club.

The possible question for the midfielder had once risen in 2006, when he and his Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, who is also English forward, had a so called ‘scuffle’ during the World Cup encounter in Germany. He told a Spanish daily Marca then that he considered leaving United and joining Real Madrid.

Leaving the question of this unsuccessful transfer, ‘Twinkle toes’, as the winger is called due to his ingenious dribbling skills, seems to be fully optimistic regarding his rehabilitation. The two time PFA Players’ Player of the Year award winner has never failed impressing his audience, and even with his injury, he’s doing a great job.

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Posted in General, Man U

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Scolari accepts gamble to bring world-class football Chelsea

July 14th, 2008

Former Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has admitted the fact that Chelsea has surely “gambled” by choosing him to be the new manager for the upcoming season. However, he also insisted that he will be striving hard for repaying the London based club by getting extraordinary football at Stamford Bridge.

Scolari was named successor of former Chelsea’s coach Avram Grant in the middle of the Euro 2008, when he was managing Portugal. Despite having some good records which includes the world cup victory with Brazil, people doubted Scolari on his lacking knowledge of the European clubs football in top flight.

The 59-year old Scolari have told the media that his focus will be confined on European success and has not chosen to cast his net wider. He continued to say that his pressure will not only be to win just Champions League, but to desire to be world class as always.

He added that he wants his players to get motivated to do good not only in Champions Cup, but also in other competitions like the FA Cup, Premier League and the Carling Cup. He insisted saying that he is not afraid of his job and will try his best to bring glory to Chelsea.

With his latest acquisitions including Portugal midfielder Deco and almost standing in front of the transfers of stars Didier Drogba & Frank Lampard from Stanford Bridge, he looks all set to make an impact in his first tenure with an English Club.

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Posted in Chelsea FC, General

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Ferguson adamant on Berbatov for Old Trafford

July 13th, 2008

Sir Alex Ferguson seems to be quite adamant for his new target, Bulgarian international and Tottenham Hotspur player, Dimitar Berbatov. If reports are to be believed, Manchester United has made an official bid worth $ 39.7 million to the Spurs for the player.

The Scotsman thinks that Berbatov will prove to be the perfect support to an already smashing attack comprising of Wayne Rooney, the England international and Carlos Tevez, Argentinean magician.

Spurs’ boss Juande Ramos will be surely unwilling to let his prized possession go away, but needs to have a check put on the club’s budget, and maybe this is the only way. Berbatov has also expressed his desire to win some more trophies before it is too late, and has been in talks with Chelsea and AC Milan prior to this.

And of course, the ex-CSKA Sofia and Bayer Leverkusen star along with four-time Bulgarian Player of the Year may be the perfect addition to the Old Trafford squad, which won the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow against Chelsea just weeks before.

Manchester United fans are scared that if the club is willing to buy Berbatov, then Christaino Ronaldo may be likely to go to Real Madrid.

The Ronaldo debate has got many influential personalities to put forward their views on the trend of ‘modern slavery’ in football, including FIFA president Step Blatter and Brazilian great Pele, who said that a player is a slave, if he does not get a salary or has no contract. Brazilian star also added that Ronaldo should see out the rest of his contract with United.

Now whether or not Ronaldo leaves for Bernabeu, Berbatov seems all set to come to Old Trafford for making an impact in the ‘Theatre of Dreams’.

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Posted in Football Transfer Market, General, Man U, Premier League, Premiership, Tottenham

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Marseille young gun Nasri joins Arsenal

July 12th, 2008

Arsenal have got a new attacking midfielder in the form of French international Samir Nasri from French club Marseille for a fee of 12 million pounds. The 2007 French Ligue 1 player of the year is said to be more than happy to be at his new club.

Nasri, the one-time winner of UEFA European u-17 Cup and Intertoto Cup and two time Coupe de France runners up with Marseille, is Arsenal’s second addition in this transfer season, after Aaron Ramsey from Cardiff City.

The 21-year old, who was also the Fans’ Player of the Year 2007, has been a part of the French National Team system, since he was 14. He was the youngest player in the French squad participating in EURO 2008.

Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger believes that Nasri will make a quality addition to the Emirates Stadium, as he is young, quick and technically outstanding player.

Nasri, who is set to join the squad from July 21, to go for the team’s pre-season tour of Austria, said that it was a very important step in his life. He hoped everything to go well in the club with him and was honored to be a part of such a great football club.

The midfield maestro revealed that Wenger’s reputation to nurture and develop talent had a great part in his transfer along with advice from former Gunners members Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, who also hailed from France.

The young playmaker is looking forward to integrate himself in the club quite quickly and bring all that he can to the club and its fans.

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Posted in Arsenal, Football Transfer Market, General, Premier League

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Kenyon confident about Chelsea’s performance in the coming season

July 12th, 2008

Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon was confident ahead of the upcoming Premiership season for his club looking at their ongoing preparation.

Kenyon, an executive with a marketing background, who before joining Chelsea in 2004 repeatedly confessed being a lifelong Manchester United fan, is known to leave behind the ‘traditional’ side of the game. He desires to promote his club as a brand rather than annoying the ‘purist’ fans associated with the club.

The executive has said that though there is always a lot of excitement before a new season, this pre-season is special, as they have a new coach, Luiz Philipe Scolari, who has the credential of winning a world cup winning and 2-time South American Coach of the year, along with a string of new players.

He insists that after assessing the season’s fixture list, the club will be having a tough time in the middle of the season. Even, the excitement of fans was not hidden from Kenyon, who promised another excellent season for the club.

As regards to the hype surrounding a possible transfer of free scoring midfielder Frank Lampard, he said that Chelsea have rejected all talks from interested clubs. Peter confirmed that the player had attracted a 7.95 million pound offer from Inter Milan. However, he remained tightlipped on Didier Drogba.

Kenyon has said that after four continuous pre-season warm up in U.S.A., this year the London Club will go to Asia after about two weeks of training. Fans in China and Malaysia will be waiting anxiously to see the likes of Lampard, Ballack, Drogba, Kalou and Terry playing live in their nation.

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Posted in Chelsea FC, General, Premier League, Premiership

Lampard and Drogba to stay at Chelsea

July 10th, 2008

Chelsea F.C. coach Luiz Filipe Scolari has insisted that the club is not willing to sell its star players, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba. He added that both these players have a future with him at Stanford Bridge.

An official 7.95 million pound offer was made by Italian side, Inter Milan, for midfielder Frank Lampard, after former Chelsea Coach Jose Mourinho took their charge. In response, Chelsea have reportedly rejected this offer, saying that they are not willing to sell Lampard and have ‘no interest’ in any negotiations on this issue with Milan.

It has been said that Lampard, the player with most Chelsea caps and goals in the current squad, has told coach Scolari that he is happy staying at Stamford Bridge disregarding the statement issued by his agent, who stated that his future with the club remained ‘unresolved’.

Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast captain, was also pursued by Inter Milan’s rival AC Milan. According to Scolari, the blues are waiting for an offer just to reject it and keep the forward in their squad.

Although no words of confirmation have yet come from Drogba or his agent, still the 2006-07 Premiership Golden Boot winner and African Footballer of the Year has given enough indication for his desire to stay longer at Stamford Bridge.

New manager Scolari, who is also the 2-time South American Coach of the Year and known to have a friendly reputation with his players, looks to be all set for propeling Chelsea to a better and well-organized team, and henceforth, leading them to more success.

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Posted in AC Milan, Chelsea FC, General, Inter Milan, Premiership

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